Are superselectives for the very able or only for geniuses?

this is interesting! dd is at a "feeder" prep for NW and I have been led to believe that she has the ability to get a place. However, I have also heard that there is a problem at NW with regard to the teaching of maths and chemistry, and that girls who struggle as a result are not allowed to resit their GCSEs and A'Levels at NW but have to go elsewhere. Does anyone know how true this is? thanks

My 3 are bigger and are at/went to superselectives. I agree that personality is important as to whether they fit in as well as ability.If a child isn't " a grafter" they are going to find a superselective unpleasant. Pace of teaching and work is fast, so there isn't the repetition etc that you might find elsewhere.

I have no idea "how bright" my kids are /were at entry - we weren't given the grammar test raw scores and SATS were only to level 5- which they all achieved across the board early in year 5. However in the Dds school where they give prizes for over all academic achievement the eldest got the form prize from year 8 to 11 (then there wasn't a similar award in 6th form) so she must have been amonths the 5 brightest in the year I guess. THe youngest is attempting to out do her sis and got the award in year 7 (she's only year 8 now). Boys school doesn't give a comparable award.

The stats I think are that the top 5% academically in the city get into these schools- to me that is still 1 in 20 so not necessarily "genius" material, but it means that only perhaps 4 would get in out of the year group or 90. This was pretty accurate (except DD1s year who were generally able and got 9 kids in).

Enrichment and extra curricular stuff is pretty huge too in my kids lives and the life of the school.

My feelings were that the kids needed exam practice to be able to do the tests early in year 6, but not tutoring that "taught them to pass the test" that would be wrong- I certainly didn't want to have to tutor them long term just for them to keep up.

Haziedoll your neice sounds like she would probably be grammar material but in an area with no grammars the "Comps" are truly comprehensive and cater for all abilities so I wouldn't worry. The problem in areas like ours is that it is like the 1960s- If you are bright but not in grammar school you aren't catered for

I think bright, able children can pass for the superselectives. DD1 is certainly no genius but she is bright, able and more importantly, motivated. She is a prolific reader, enjoys testing (weird child) and thrives on the challenge. Currently DD1 is at level 5a across the board and is being put in for the level 6 papers.

DD2 is a different kettle of fish altogether. She is just as able as DD1 and is currently at level 4b/4a for maths/literacy in year 4 however she is not motivated at all and quite lazy. She doesn't enjoy reading and doing any sort of school set homework is painful.

I don't think superselectives are the right school even for the brightest most able child. I think you also have to look at their personality and how they approach their work and decide whether or not they will thrive in that school. DD1 is off to Tiffin and I think will thrive - she is over the moon as it was her first choice. DD2 wants to got o Tiffin (because big sis is going there) but I honestly don't think it will necessarily be the right school for her.

Ok, thanks. My niece scored 4a at the end of year 4 so would probably do quite well. However there are no selectives in her area.

DD1 got 5a in reading, writing, maths and 5b in science, if I recall correctly.

I think DD will probably get a 5a in English and science, I suspect on a good day she could get a 6c in maths, but don't think they will be offered level 6 tests at her school

Oulucky I think we are all in the same boat. Able DCs but not geniuses

Those of you who say that your children are able but not geniuses, can I ask what level SATS they achieved in year 6?

It seems that there are so many pupils chasing places at these schools that I assumed that the children must be very bright indeed.

Sorry for thread hijack by the way ouluckyduck.

Phew TMC - that makes me feel a little more relaxed.

Will try and beat the crowds MMM.

Pooka one of the grammars my DD passed but is not going to as not first choice on CAF was NW. We started doing the odd bond NVR and VR paper mainly in year 5. She still had plenty of time to enjoy school and all her other interests and in the end it was worth it.

Pooka, when you look at NW get there early. I hear it is full to bursting on the open eve.
I think you will get a feeling for the school that suits her the most when you look round them all.

OP, please be assured that your DD does not need to be a genius or child prodigy to fit in at a super selective. My elder DD attends one of these schools and while she is a very clever girl, I would not describe her as a genius. There may be the odd girl who is a exceptional and gets 100% in every test but they are unusual; in fact I can't think of any in her class, though some girls are gifted in a particular subject. Quite a few of her peers were heavily tutored prior to admission and continue to be tutored to this day, so that makes me think that hard work and supportive parents are important in getting good results.

One of the reasons she likes the school is that everyone is clever, they have good debates in class and most girls make interesting contributions to the lessons. She enjoys school, behaviour in the school is good, the teachers are able and interesting extra curricula opportunities are offered. Personally I would definitely recommend my DD's super selective as representing the best the state system has to offer.

Thanks MMM. I'm feeling so conflicted at the moment. I know we have some reasonable options locally as well as access to the Bexley grammars. It's just that it seems so counterintuitive to me at the moment to be having dd tutored when she is enjoying school and performing very well.

It may actually turn out that NW isn't the right school for her anyway - will be looking round later this year.

Pooka, yes sto.

I do have kids at two of the boroughs comps and am very pleased with them.

Problem is with the ss is how oversubscribed they are so it may come to tutoring or doing a lot of papers at home. Not in year 4 but year 5.

Good luck to your children

Cross-posted.

Blimey jum, what's your problem?

Easier? No, different. Staff are challenged in a different way: there are less behavioural problems to tackle in a superselective but there is the need to teach academically challenging lessons and keep up with the pupils every step of the way. Just as demanding, equally exhausting and no easier - just different.

The superselective my kids attend/ used to attend gets super results overwhelmingly as a by-product of super teaching to able groups. jumjum you sound as though you have quite a large axe to grind?

Jumjum, think I was being ironic. You are the one that said they are not known as super results.
Do you have an issue with them?

Jum could you please spell out what children in grammars are missing out on? I don't get your point. If a child can play grade 88 oboe that's a bad thing???

MMM - if NW or StO, then yes, my area! :)

I think the current situation is bearable because in reality the impact of the SS on the comprehensive education in the borough is limited because of the sheer numbers involved and the sense that the comprehensives in general get a relatively large able intake. I'm an advocate of the comprehensive system though and I do worry about what will happen to the other schools if the SS schools are able to set up satellites. That really concerns me.

I'm also feeling heavily pressured by the number of people who are already (dd is in year 4) having their children tutored in order to have a better chance of getting in. I really don't want that for dd - I just want my dcs to be able to access the best education possible in a level playing field. I do worry that I'm living in cloud cuckoo land!

Super selectives "tend" to get very good results. Really? Welll that's good of them with their super selective intakes.... pleezeeee - besides what's important is not the results but the other "stuff" that children gain from education;

• and by that I don't mean Grade 88 in Oboe and Piano or other certificates that superselctives seem to measure theire performance.

@jumjum the superselective my DD attends could just as easily be called super-results actually.